State Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, could become the next leader of the California Senate, according to Sacramento-based news outlet KCRA.

Limón has at least 16 votes from Democrats, according to the report by Ashley Zavala, KCRA California capitol correspondent.

Noozhawk confirmed independently with sources that Limón, as of Sunday afternoon, is a frontrunner. The situation, however, is fluid and it’s likely that the next 24 hours will be full of conversations, discussions and behind-the-scenes negotiations leading up to a possible vote on Monday.

Limón is chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, the Legislative Women’s Caucus and vice chair of the Central Coast Caucus. Limón has her own political power base, is well-liked, has a wide group of supporters, and was in play for the job in the past.

The situation is further heightened by the fact that the state legislature is set to vote on the budget on Friday.

It would be the first time the leader of the senate came from Santa Barbara in California history.

As a political matter, Limón’s elevation to the top senate spot is significant for several reasons: Besides a personal triumph for a home-grown politician who has only been in Sacramento for eight years, it also would mark the first time in memory one of the three most powerful posts in the capital is held by a Santa Barbaran.

The senate president, along with the Assembly Speaker and the governor largely shapes the state budget, and also holds considerable sway over committee assignments and the flow of legislation in the senate.

The current senate leader, Democrat Mike McGuire of Santa Rosa, is termed out next year, but the KCRA report states that it is unclear if Democrats would wait until then to select a new leader.

McGuire is pushing for Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez, from Long Beach, to replace him, the KCRA report states.

There is no clear line of succession, potentially setting the stage for a dramatic political vote.

Limón was elected to the California Assembly in 2016 and was elected to the State Senate in 2020. She also served for two terms on the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education.

Limón was born and raised in Santa Barbara and has a master’s degree in education from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.